Chickenpox is a disease that generally affects children and is highly contagious. The disease is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which usually causes mild symptoms and is not life-threatening. However, this disease can also be quite severe and even result in death for some people. As an adult, you may have to care for children or other adults who have chickenpox. However, if you've never had chickenpox or received the vaccine, you can get it too. Learn how to avoid contracting the disease to reduce the chances of any long-term effects you may experience.
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Method 1 of 3: Protecting Yourself Around Sick People
Step 1. Understand how the chickenpox virus spreads
This virus is highly contagious and spreads in the air through airborne particles of lesions on the skin or upper respiratory tract. You can also catch the virus from coming into contact with open lesions when you touch your face, nose, or mouth.
- The development of the disease takes 10-21 days after exposure.
- From research on the transmission of chickenpox among family members, it is known that about 90% of people who are close to the patient will also be infected with the disease.
- People with chickenpox can transmit the disease from 1-2 days before the rash appears on the skin surface and can continue to transmit the disease until all the lesions on the skin close.
- Some vaccinated people may experience breakthrough varicella, which is mild chickenpox accompanied by a rash of less than 50 lesions and a low-grade fever. However, these patients with breakthrough varicella still have 1/3 of the infectiousness compared to those who were not vaccinated.
Step 2. Protect yourself from droplet transmission
Take care when treating people with chickenpox to reduce the risk of droplet infection. The varicella zoster virus can spread through direct contact with an infected person or by touching objects or clothing that the patient has come into contact with. Splashes/droplets can come from sneezing, coughing, nasal secretions, saliva, or coming out when the patient speaks.
- Wear a face mask to prevent the patient's body secretions from getting into your face and mouth. Face masks should always be worn as long as you are in the same room with the patient. In addition, you should also wear a new mask.
- Wear gloves, protective clothing and glasses, or a face mask if the person sneezes, coughs, or has a lot of nasal secretions. Splashes from a sneeze can fly through the air up to 60 meters, so protecting yourself is extremely important.
Step 3. Wash hands before and after touching the patient
You should make sure to wash your hands before and after touching a patient, or after touching objects, equipment, or patient secretions. Use soap and warm water to wash your hands.
- Cover your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Be sure to rub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Sing the song "Happy Birthday" twice as a 20 second reminder if necessary.
- Rinse your hands thoroughly with warm running water and dry them with a clean towel or hot water.
Step 4. Limit people with chickenpox in one room to reduce the chance of spreading the virus
The patient's bedroom is often the best choice. If possible, ask the person with chickenpox to only use 1 bathroom at home and make sure that other people don't use the same bathroom.
Ask the person with chickenpox to wear a mask when he leaves the bedroom and goes to the bathroom. Sneezing or coughing that the sufferer emits while outside his room can also spread the virus
Step 5. Use additional protection
This additional protection includes protective clothing and gloves to avoid physical contact with the patient or other objects that have been in contact with him.
Be sure to wear goggles, gloves, and protective clothing when changing sheets, entering rooms, touching her body, or handling other objects
Method 2 of 3: Considering the Chickenpox Vaccination
Step 1. Remember whether you have ever been infected with chickenpox
If you can't remember, or you were born after 1980, and no one in your family can remember, your doctor can check your blood titer. This blood test will measure antibodies in the blood caused by the chickenpox virus.
If you have been exposed to chickenpox and are infected with this disease, even if it is mild, the chickenpox antibodies will be in the blood and protect your body from future infections
Step 2. Decide if you should be vaccinated
There are some people who should not be vaccinated against chickenpox because of other health problems. Consult your medical history with your doctor to determine if you should not be vaccinated. Generally, you should not be vaccinated if:
- Had an allergic reaction to the first dose of vaccine
- Is pregnant
- Allergy to gelatin or neomycin
- Suffering from diseases of the immune system
- Using high doses of steroids
- Are undergoing cancer treatment with X-rays, drugs, or chemotherapy
- Have had a blood transfusion or other blood product in the last 5 months
Step 3. Ask your doctor about the chickenpox vaccination
The chickenpox vaccine can also protect you from this disease. Although most studies have been conducted on administering vaccines before infection, vaccination after infection can also provide effective protection. However, getting vaccinated within 5 days of exposure to the disease is very important to get the best results.
- If you have never had chickenpox or received the vaccine, talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated.
- Some people who are vaccinated may have mild chickenpox with fewer lesions than normal chickenpox, and often without fever at all. The chickenpox vaccine is made from live or attenuated viruses.
- Children can be vaccinated against chickenpox at 12-18 months of age and re-vaccinated between 4-6 years of age. The most common side effects of the vaccine are pain, redness or swelling at the injection site. A small percentage of children and adults who are vaccinated will also develop a mild rash around the injection site.
Method 3 of 3: Identifying Risk Factors and Treatment Options
Step 1. Know the risk of chickenpox in certain populations
There are certain population groups that are at a higher risk of developing serious, life-threatening complications. This population includes:
- Newborns and infants whose mothers have never had chickenpox or were vaccinated against chickenpox
- Adults
- Pregnant women who have never had chickenpox
- People with weakened immune systems due to drugs
- People who use steroid class drugs
- People taking immune system suppressant drugs
Step 2. Know the potential complications from chickenpox
In some cases, chickenpox can lead to serious complications that require emergency treatment. Complications from varicella include, but are not limited to the following:
- Bacterial infections of the skin or soft tissue
- Pneumonia
- Septicemia (infection of the bloodstream)
- Toxic Shock Syndrome
- Bone infection
- Septic arthritis (joint infection)
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
- Cerebral ataxia (inflammation of the cerebellum of the brain)
- Dehydration
- Joint infection
Step 3. Talk about treatment options with your doctor
Treatment for chickenpox is usually supportive and done at home. If you are at high risk and have other conditions due to chickenpox, a secondary infection and supportive therapy for you may need to be given in the hospital. Home care will help the sufferer recover more comfortably. Home treatments for chickenpox generally include:
- The use of calamine lotion and oatmeal baths can help dry the lesions and relieve itching.
- Medications other than aspirin such as paracetamol can relieve fever. Products containing aspirin have been linked to Reye's syndrome, which is a serious disease of the liver and brain that can lead to death.
- Antiviral drugs are used in high-risk people who may develop a secondary infection. Antiviral drugs include acyclovir, valaciclovir, and famciclovir.
Step 4. Know when to seek medical help
If someone with chickenpox is being treated at home, you should know what situations require immediate medical attention. Call a doctor or take the patient to the emergency department if he:
- Over 12 years of age as a supportive preventive care measure
- Weak immune system
- Is pregnant
- Fever for more than 4 days
- Fever over 38, 9 °C
- Have a very red, warm, or painful rash
- Has a body part that secretes a thick colored liquid
- Difficulty standing or looking confused
- Difficulty walking
- Experiencing stiff neck
- Frequent vomiting
- Difficulty breathing or showing symptoms of a severe cough
Tips
- Chickenpox is a disease that mainly affects children, is highly contagious, and must be treated with extreme care if you are to prevent transmission.
- You should be very careful and alert while around people with chickenpox if you are an adult or your immune system is weak because the effects are dangerous and may threaten your safety.
- Keep in mind that people with shingles can also transmit chickenpox to those who have never had it, but only through direct contact. Droplet infection is unlikely when you have shingles. Once infected with chickenpox, you can get shingles years or even decades later.
